The hand of compassion

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Through moving interviews with five ordinary people who rescued Jews during the Holocaust, Kristen Monroe explores a fundamental ethical question: why do individuals risk their lives for strangers? Her analysis shifts focus from traditional explanations like religion or reason to the concept of identity. The rescuers' self-perceptions in relation to others made their extraordinary acts spontaneous, rendering inaction unthinkable. One rescuer noted, "The hand of compassion was faster than the calculus of reason." The book features interviews with diverse rescuers from all walks of life within the Third Reich: Margot, a wealthy German in exile; Otto, a Prague resident who saved over 100 Jews; John, a Dutchman on the Gestapo's "Most Wanted List"; Irene, a Polish student who hid eighteen Jews; and Knud, a Danish policeman involved in rescuing 85% of his country’s Jews. Monroe analyzes their stories through the lenses of philosophy, ethics, and political psychology, suggesting that identity shapes our cognitive and ethical choices. Her work challenges conventional views on rational choice and enriches the discourse on ethics and moral psychology. Ultimately, it highlights the profound impact of identity on political actions and our treatment of others, reminding us that the Holocaust was preventable and illuminating the minds of those who acted ethically amidst moral chaos.